Nlcomp: From startup to industrial site in Monfalcone to build the first recyclable boats

Monfalcone (Gorizia) – The Monfalcone Nautical District is now fully booked. The Coseveg consortium has sold the last available lot to the Samer Group, which ironically was lot number 1. This lot will house the first industrial site of nlcomp, a now-expanded startup led by Fabio Bignolini that produces eco-sustainable boats, addressing the end-of-life issue of fiberglass hulls, which are not recyclable. A small wind farm will also be built here.

This milestone was celebrated with the first event hosted in the area redeveloped by the Municipality of Monfalcone, which brings the sea to the city and marks the northernmost point of the Mediterranean, with a multimedia room and a 32-kilometer cycle path that reaches all the way to Trieste.

"The sale of the available land along the canal banks," says Coseveg President Fabrizio Renato Russo, "is complete, and each lot has been allocated to economic and productive activities related to the nautical world, confirming Monfalcone's role in this sector. We are pleased to have sold the land to the Samer Group, which immediately assessed its potential and chose to use it for a sector that is particularly important for the local industry, with great potential."

Unfortunately, it was the last lot, as there was still a lot of work to do. "It's a shame we can't have more space," commented President Russo, "because there's huge demand for the nautical industry in Monfalcone right now. I'm pleased that an innovative, young, and sustainable company is coming to the project."

The areas acquired by the Samer Group will be primarily used to install the industrial plant of nlcomp, the company founded in Monfalcone as a start-up to build boats using recyclable composite materials to replace fiberglass. The R&D efforts carried out in the first five years of operation, the numerous awards and certifications for the project's quality, the results achieved, and the market's attention have led to a recent capital increase, the primary objective of which was to build the industrial plant.

The acquisition of the 13 thousand square meter land, which also has a sea dock, was formalized by the Samer Group, which also supported nlcomp with a capital injection of 600 thousand euros.

"Our support for nlcomp," says Enrico Samer, President of the Samer Group, "has been around for a long time and has grown over time given the significant results achieved. The company is now ready to begin mass-producing composites on a larger scale and serving many markets, focusing on the boating sector and other fields where fiberglass needs to be replaced as quickly as possible with more compatible materials. Hence the need to find a suitable site for this type of production, with direct access to the sea. The area made available by Coseveg has the characteristics for this type of activity, and its size will allow us to launch additional activities related to the nautical world."

The Samer Group's connection with the port of Monfalcone dates back a long time. "We were already active," recalls Enrico Samer, "when nlcomp was just a warehouse. Here, however, we also have a very interesting dock. Five young sailors met five years ago and today have become five young entrepreneurs producing the only fully recyclable boat in the world."

Construction of the headquarters will begin as soon as possible on the land entrusted to nlcomp, as mass production of composite materials needs to begin as soon as possible to meet market demands. "Our industrial plant," explained nlcomp CEO Fabio Bignolini, "will be ready in September to allow our Marine division to carry out the final work in preparation for the launch of Offshore 34—our new dedicated offshore sailing vessel—by the end of the year. We started with an Optimist, receiving compliments from all over Europe. Now the largest boat is 9,30 meters, but we also work for very important shipyards, such as Cantiere del Pardo, the first to believe in us and that presented the Grand Soleil Blue at Boot Düsseldorf, and other Italian companies”.

The industrial facility will be built with sustainability in mind: it will be constructed of wood, with some parts made of panels made from materials produced by nlcomp itself. The structure will be energy self-sufficient: "We've been working for some time to extend our production to include the construction of mini wind turbines," Bignolini explained, "and the first will be installed right on the land along the East West Canal, with the aim of powering the industrial facility."

They will be mini-turbines with 2-meter-high wind blades, with a total system height of 8 meters, but also 16-meter systems with 8-meter-high blades, "to supply energy," explains Bignolini, "to airports, public facilities, and industries where large systems cannot be installed. It's a cheaper and less impactful alternative. To build the wind blades, we will have to adapt the production process for the boats to that of the turbines because the techniques will be different."

"Monfalcone," commented MEP Anna Maria Cisint, "continues to consolidate its role as a hub of excellence and an advanced center for technological development at the regional and international level. nlcomp is a company we have witnessed from its inception, and today it represents a model of innovation and entrepreneurial vision. These young entrepreneurs, in addition to being technical experts, are also sailors, and their journey is supported by a renowned name like the Samer Group. They are not limited to the nautical sector, but are intelligently and ambitiously exploring new areas of development, demonstrating how our region can offer space for diversified and cutting-edge initiatives."

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